Former Austin Police Officer Enters Guilty Plea to Providing False Information to Federal Investigators

Former Austin Police Officer Jermaine Gaspard, age 34, faces up to five years in federal prison after pleading guilty this afternoon to making a false statement to federal authorities, announced United States Attorney Robert Pitman, U.S. Secret Service Acting Special Agent in Charge Ben Bass, Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge John Boles, San Antonio Division, and Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo.

Appearing before United States Magistrate Judge Andrew Austin in Austin this afternoon, Gaspard admitted that he made a false statement to federal authorities conducting a credit card fraud investigation. According to the factual basis filed in this case, in April 2013, Gaspard knowingly accessed the mobile data terminal inside his Austin Police Department (APD) patrol car and performed an unauthorized database check on a subject. Subsequently, Gaspard showed the subject the APD report he discovered, which included the fact that there was a pending indictment related to the subject’s fraudulent use of a credit card. When questioned by federal authorities, Gaspard denied providing the information to the subject.

Gaspard is out on bond pending sentencing. No sentencing date has been scheduled.

This investigation was conducted by agents with the U.S. Secret Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, together with the Austin Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Gregg N. Sofer is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.